Comment: AirPods emphasize the need for better Apple Music syncing, podcast playback with Apple Watch
AirPods are finally here and early customers who can find stock seem to be largely happy with the purchase. Setup is nearly instant, sound quality is better than expected, and totally wireless earbuds that switch between all your devices is super convenient.
Apple’s new W1 chip makes setup and switching so easy that a lot of Apple Watch wearers are probably pairing earphones to the watch for the first time. It happens automatically over iCloud after you pair with another device using your account so some people may not even realize it’s happening.
When you do realize you can play content directly from the Apple Watch to AirPods without relying on your iPhone, finding something to play and knowing how to play it can be rather cumbersome. AirPods really emphasize the Apple Watch’s need to improve at the basics like syncing Apple Music, podcasts, and other audio…
Filed under: Apple
Pokémon Go lands on the Apple Watch with Activity and Workout integration
PSA: The original RollerCoaster Tycoon is now available for iOS
9to5Toys Lunch Break: UE MEGABOOM Bluetooth Speaker $180, Tweetbot 4 $5, Aukey USB-C Hubs from $8, more
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TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
UE’s MEGABOOM Bluetooth Speaker falls to its Amazon all-time low just before Christmas: $180 shipped (Reg. $250)
Tweetbot 4 for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch is now 50% off on the App Store: $5 (Reg. $10)
Smartphone Accessories: Aukey USB-C Hub with 4 USB 3.0 Ports $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $15), more
Add four USB ports, HDMI and more to your Mac or PC w/ the Sabrent Universal Docking Station for $63 shipped (Reg. $90)
Last call for Prime members! Get your orders in today to receive last-minute gifts by Christmas
Apple’s latest 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros w/ Touch Bar are up to $200 off at B&H, free next day delivery (Tax NY only)
Save $100 on iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi at Best Buy: prices start at $300 for 32GB, more
FREE MONEY: Gift the Apple fan in your life (including yourself) a $100 iTunes Gift Card for $85 with email delivery
Big year-end iTunes movie sale is now live w/ tons of great $5 titles, $0.99 rentals, bundle discounts & more
iOS/Mac Holiday App Sale Roundup: GO Trilogy, Tweetbot, Oceanhorn, Bastion, Final Fantasy, The Room, many more
- Duet Display is 50% off! Turn your iPad into a secondary screen for your Mac: $10 (Reg. $20)
- You can now grab Hitman, Lara Croft and Deus Ex GO Trilogy on iOS for just $2 (up to $6 value)
- XCOM Enemy Within hits its lowest price ever on the App Store: $3 (Reg. $10+)
- Here’s how to get 3 free months of 1Password Teams ($8 value ea.)
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Last Minute Ideas – Battery/Lightning Cable, USB-C Drives, Multi-Tools, Controllers and more
9to5Toys Gift Guide: The best tech accessories for any car or truck – Bluetooth adapter, USB Jump Starter, Dash Cam & more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Trevor’s Top 5 Tech Picks under $50 – smart home gear, drones, and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Justin’s Top 5 Picks for Gamers – accessories, vintage Nintendo, art/coffee table books and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for Music Makers – pocket synths, headphone accessories, DIY kits and more
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for the Techie Traveler – best messenger bags, Bluetooth gear, accessories and more
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
NETGEAR ReadyNAS 2-Bay Network Attached Storage w/ PLEX and Dual Gigabit Ethernet: $210 shipped (Reg. $300)
- Logitech’s M705 Wireless Mousew/ insane 3-year battery life: $20 (Reg. $30+)
- Free Money! Buy a $60 Netflix Gift Card and get a free $5 Best Buy Gift Card today
- AOC 23″ 1080p Monitor $90, SanDisk 256GB lash Drive $38, more
- Games/Apps: Day One from $3, AC Ezio Collection from $28, iOS freebies, more
- Grab the Dremel 39-Piece Rotary Tool Kit $59 shipped (Reg. up to $80)
MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:
Cut the cord w/ the help of 1byone HDTV Antennas up to 58% off, from $10 Prime shipped
Go wireless this Christmas! Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones in three colors for $88 shipped (Reg. $130)
Sony’s h.ear Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones: $200 shipped (Reg. $350)
eero’s mesh Wi-Fi systems just dropped to all-time lows: 2-Pack $289, 3-Pack $372
Answer your door even when you’re not home with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $200 shipped (Reg. $250)
Massive list of discounted Gift Cards up to 20% off: JCPenney, Domino’s, Old Navy, Foot Locker + many more
Filed under: Apple
Apple’s redesigned iCloud․com Photos app comes out of beta for all
After rolling out a redesigned iCloud Photos app to the beta site earlier this month, today the updated experience is now available to all through iCloud.com.
more…
Filed under: Apple
Poll: How big a deal has it been adapting to all-USB-C ports on the new MacBook Pro?
Apple’s decision to go all-in on USB-C ports on the new MacBook Pro has of course generated a great deal of debate. In a poll we ran almost two months ago, a slim majority of you felt that the decision was a positive one, but the votes were very close.
Now that many of us have been using our shiny new machines for some time, and had the chance to adjust to working with the new ports, I thought it would be interesting to see how easy or difficult an adjustment it has been …
Filed under: Apple
Apple asked for help to unlock iPhone 4s of man who killed Russian ambassador in Turkey
After an off-duty police officer shot dead the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Apple has been asked to help unlock an iPhone 4s recovered from the killer.
MacReports and other local media say that Apple is expected to refuse the request from Turkish authorities, but report that the Russian government has said it will help …
Filed under: Apple
Uber iOS app said to be tracking some customer locations weeks after their last trips
Uber recently changed the behaviour of its app so that it continued to track the location of customers for an additional five minutes after they were dropped off. The move appeared to be to prevent driver fraud, by preventing drivers claiming that a journey lasted longer than it did.
Filed under: Apple
Future Apple Watch models could be slimmer as patent illustrates haptic motor in wristband
A patent application published today could herald slimmer Apple Watch models as the company describes a method of moving the haptic motor from the watch to the band. Taps to the wrist could then be delivered by the band rather than the Watch.
Apple specifically cites space-saving as the benefit of the invention …
Filed under: Apple
Apple suing Nokia in patent dispute, accuses company of extortion, attacks patent trolls
We reported yesterday that Nokia filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming the company had violated no fewer than 32 of its patents in every iPhone from the 3GS onward. Just for good measure, the lawsuit also includes every iPad, the Apple Watch and Apple TV.
The WSJ now reports that Nokia was responding to an Apple lawsuit accusing the company of deliberately excluding the 32 patents from an agreement reached between the two companies in 2011, and transferring the patents to third-party companies in order to extort excessive royalties …
Filed under: Apple